How do I install the simple email mcp server?

Use a recorded configuration for your client, replace example credential values and paths, and verify the documented runtime. Restart or reconnect the client, then inspect the available tools.

What credentials does it need?

It reads `IMAP_HOST`, `SMTP_HOST` from the environment. Store these in your client's env block or a secrets manager — never commit them to a repository — and grant the narrowest scope that still covers your use case.

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Simple Email MCP Server

A provider-agnostic MCP server for email (IMAP/SMTP). Works with any email provider — Purelymail, Gmail, Outlook, DomainFactory, or any standard

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Simple Email MCP Server?

A provider-agnostic MCP server for email (IMAP/SMTP). Works with any email provider — Purelymail, Gmail, Outlook, DomainFactory, or any standard IMAP/SMTP server.

What it actually does

Multi-account — — manage multiple email accounts from different providers
Read, search, list — — full IMAP support with folder browsing
Send emails — — plain text, HTML, or both (multipart/alternative)
Attachments — — send via file path or base64-encoded inline data
Download attachments — — extract attachments from received emails as base64
Calendar invites — — send proper ICS invitations with Accept/Decline buttons

More MCP options

Compare MCP servers by category, or browse hosted MCP servers if you prefer an endpoint over a local process.

Maintainer setup documentation.

Recorded tools

Check the linked publisher documentation and your connected client's tool list. Names and availability can vary with the server version and account permissions.

Tool	What it does
Action	Description
validate_config	Validate config without logging into IMAP/SMTP
list_accounts	List configured accounts
list_folders	List IMAP folders for an account
list_emails	List recent emails in a folder
search	Search emails using IMAP criteria
read	Read full email content by UID
get_attachment	Download an attachment as base64
prepare_attachments	Inspect local attachment paths before sending
save_attachment	Save an attachment directly to disk (preferred for large files)
send	Send an email (text, HTML, attachments, calendar invites)
reply	Reply to an email (auto-sets recipient, subject, threading, quotes body)
reply_all	Reply all (sender to To, other recipients to CC, quotes body)
forward	Forward an email with original attachments
move	Move an email between folders
mark	Mark as read/unread/flagged/unflagged
email_list_accounts	email with action: "list_accounts"
email_send_email	email with action: "send"
email_read_email	email with action: "read"
email_search_emails	email with action: "search"
email_forward	email with action: "forward"
email_reply_all	email with action: "reply_all"

How to install the Simple Email MCP Server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "email": {
      "command": "simple-email-mcp"
    }
  }
}

From the project documentation. Replace placeholders and example paths before connecting.

Example prompts to try

“Use Simple Email MCP to Action.”
“Use Simple Email MCP to validate config.”
“Use Simple Email MCP to list accounts.”

Frequently asked questions

A provider-agnostic MCP server for email (IMAP/SMTP). Works with any email provider — Purelymail, Gmail, Outlook, DomainFactory, or any standard IMAP/SMTP server. Confirm the tools offered by your installed version in the connected client. Tool availability and permissions depend on the server and account configuration.